FTFT! - (First Timothy Four Twelve!) - About Ushttp://ftftmission.org/taxonomy/term/13/0
enLocal Chaptershttp://ftftmission.org/book/local-chapters
<table border="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td>
<h3>Name</h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3># of Volunteers</h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3>Location</h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3>Date Founded</h3>
</td>
<td>
<h3>Contact(s)</h3>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>St. George</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Astoria, NY</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Mark Guirguis<br />Mario Guirguis<br />Michael Fahmy<br />Sharif Elhakem<br />Marianne Seddik<br />Mina Phlamon<br />Marina Michel<br />Mina Hanna<br />Mariam Magar</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>St. Paul</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Atlantic City, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>St. George</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>Brooklyn, NY</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Cheri Youssef</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td valign="top">St. Mary</td>
<td valign="top">48</td>
<td valign="top">Brunswick, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td valign="top">St. Mark</td>
<td valign="top">2</td>
<td valign="top">Cedar Grove, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td valign="top">St. Mina</td>
<td valign="top">3</td>
<td valign="top">Holmdel, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td valign="top">Archangel Michael</td>
<td valign="top">2</td>
<td valign="top">Howell, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>St. George &amp; St. Shenouda</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>Jersey City, NJ</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Nancy Awad<br />Heidi Milad<br />Theresa Girgis<br />Youstina Soliman</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td valign="top">St. Abraam</td>
<td valign="top">4</td>
<td valign="top">Long Island, NY</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>St. George</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Philadelphia, PA</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Kathy Makkar
</td></tr></tbody></table><p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/local-chapters" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/local-chapters#commentsAbout UsChaptersGeneralSun, 08 Feb 2009 06:56:14 +0000ftftadmin48 at http://ftftmission.orgOur Historyhttp://ftftmission.org/book/our-history
<p>On March 30, 2007, His Grace Bishop David officially inaugurated FTFT! as a diocese-wide service arm of the Church. Since that day, FTFT! has grown to over 200 members in churches throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who are actively serving their local communities.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/our-history#commentsAbout UsGeneralHistorySun, 08 Feb 2009 06:48:20 +0000ftftadmin47 at http://ftftmission.orgCoptic Saintshttp://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-saints
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Saints are dear brothers who have struggled like us and have departed to Paradise. They are not dead, but are sleeping, as our Lord said (Jn 11:11) and as St. Paul called them (1 Thess 4:13).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our early fathers spoke clearly and in detail about our relationship with Saints. The Saints in Paradise are the triumphant members of the same one church in which we are militant members. We, the triumphant and militants, are members of the Church, which is the one Body of our Lord Jesus Christ. The triumphant become invisible members because of the death of their bodies, and then militants are the visible ones. This is man's point of view, but in God's sight, we are all a visible holy family.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">They departed from earth, but did not leave the church; their love toward their brothers did not cease by their departure and dwelling in Paradise. The death of their bodies does not sever the bond of mutual love between them and us; on the contrary it increases in depth and strength. Their prayers for the salvation of the entire world never cease. They pray for us, and we venerate them as they are our holy and dear friends.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We venerate the icons of saints and put them on the iconstasis. Church walls and doors are hung with icons, also our homes, etc., as a sign of our communion with them in the Lord Jesus Christ.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-saints#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:45:20 +0000ftftadmin38 at http://ftftmission.orgMonastic Movementhttp://ftftmission.org/book/monastic-movement
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Coptic Church is known by her ascetic attitudes, not only because it was there the monastic movements started, but because these attitudes represent characteristics of her life of worship. These attitudes have an evangelic base:</p>
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><p>"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?..." (Mt 16:26)</p>
<p>"...Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor...and come, follow Me." (Lk 18:22)</p>
<p>"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor 9:27)</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Asecticism, in the Coptic Church, is not a goal in itself that believers desire to attain, but it is a practical response to divine love. Our Lord gave Himself on our behalf, and we in turn long to give ourselves a long-sacrifice for God's sake. We abstain from temporary pleasures as a sign of our internal desire to enjoy the divine delight through the new life in our Lord Jesus Christ. Believers, especially monks, have one purpose; to attain the inner heavenly Kingdom as a pledge to their hope for eternal life and meeting with God.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In Egpyt, all monastic forms started in the fourth century to reattract the heart of the Church to the inner life, after the country had accepted Christianity and the Emperor had opened his door to bishops and priest.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">St. Antony, the father of monks, was the first Christian to live a life of consecrated solitude. As a hermit in the desert, he lived a long and saintly life that influenced countless people both in his time and for generations thereafter, even to this day.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/monastic-movement" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/monastic-movement#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:44:19 +0000ftftadmin37 at http://ftftmission.orgPatrologyhttp://ftftmission.org/book/patrology
<p style="text-align: justify;">As we believe that the Coptic Orthodox Church is the Holy and Sacred Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we also believe that there is a direct and strong connection between our Coptic Church's Fathers, our holy Apostles, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, the Faith, which was submitted by our Lord Jesus Christ to His holy Apostles, was the same faith submitted to their holy successors who preserved it and submitted it unchanged to their children throughout all the generations of Coptic Christianity. Without the Apostolic Fathers and those holy Fathers who followed in their footsteps we would not have the blessings of "the authentic and unchanged faith" in which we have today.</p>
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<hr /></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/patrology" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/patrology#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:43:07 +0000ftftadmin36 at http://ftftmission.orgCoptic Liturgyhttp://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-liturgy
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/liturgy1.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Coptic Liturgies</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/liturgy2.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">The Significance of the Divine Liturgy</span></span></a> </li>
</ul>
http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-liturgy#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:42:09 +0000ftftadmin35 at http://ftftmission.orgCoptic Calendarhttp://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-calendar
<p style="text-align: justify;">All historians have agreed that the Egyptians were the first to calculate time. They divided the year into 12 months, according in their knowledge of the stars. They later discovered the solar year, and became dependent upon it. Each of the 12 months was 30 days long and they added five more days, which they called the small month. Therefore, their year became 365 days long. The final stage of rectifying the calendar, in 238 BC was to add a sixth day to the small month every four years. The beginning of their year was on the first day of the month of Thout, which is the first month of the Coptic year.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Egyptians named their months after their gods, and chose their names according to the season of the climatic changes for agriculture. They divided the year into 3 main seasons:</p>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>The season of the flood of the Nile (Thout to Koiahk) </li>
<li>The season of vegetation (Tobi to Paremoude) </li>
<li>The season of reaping and harvesting (Pachons to Mesori) The small month was a chance for feasts and festivals. </li>
</ol>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Coptic months are, in order:</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-calendar" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-calendar#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:40:59 +0000ftftadmin34 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Traditionhttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-tradition
<p style="text-align: justify;">The term "tradition" comes from the Latin word traditio. In theological terms it means any teaching or practice which has been transmitted from generation to generation throughout the life of the Church.</p>
<div class="dots" style="text-align: justify;">
<hr /></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/tradition1.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">The Apostolic Tradition</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/tradition2.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">The Patristic Tradition</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/tradition3.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Evidences of Existence of Tradition</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/tradition4.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Universality and Timelessness of Tradition</span></span></a></li>
</ul>
http://ftftmission.org/book/church-tradition#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:39:53 +0000ftftadmin33 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Sacramentshttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-sacraments
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Seven Sacraments of the Church are the channels by which we receive the graces and blessings of the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit has existed in the church since the day of Pentecost, when He dwelt in it according to the Lord's promise: <em>"I will pray to the Father, and He will you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth when the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him for He dwells with you, and will be in you." (John 14:16,17)</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Holy Spirit works in the church through the Sacraments, giving us His gifts, blessings and comfort, and teaches us and guides us to the way of truth. <em>"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>(By H.G. Bishop Mettaous, Bishop and Abbot of St. Mary Monastery, El-Sorian)</em></p>
<div class="dots" style="text-align: justify;">
<hr /></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/church-sacraments" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/church-sacraments#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:38:50 +0000ftftadmin32 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Ritualshttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-rituals
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals1.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Coptic Church Rituals I</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals2.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Church Rituals II: Characteristics of Our Coptic Church</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals3.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Church Rituals III: Characteristics of Our Coptic Church</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals4.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Church Rituals IV: Service Vessels</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals5.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Church Rituals V: The Meaning of the Use of Light within the Church</span></span></a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.suscopts.org/pdf/copticchurch/rituals6.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Spirituality of Our Church Rituals VI: Iconostasis</span></span></a> </li>
</ul>
http://ftftmission.org/book/church-rituals#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:37:04 +0000ftftadmin31 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Martyrdomhttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-martyrdom
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our Coptic Church lives by the work of the Holy Spirit inside of her. Her page of martyrdom comes from the fruits of the Spirit. We are amazed how our fathers and our martyrs withstood their sufferings; how they were unshaken, how they conquered, and how their honored blood, which was shed, destroyed the weapons of the evil kings and rulers.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Martyrdom is the story of Christianity from its inception. It is a story of spreading the Holy Gospel all over the world. The witness of the martyr's blood was greater than any teaching or preaching. Martyrdom is a deep philosophy founded on strong spiritual principles for which Christians from all social levels, cultures and throughout the ages have been attached to.</p>
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<hr /></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/church-martyrdom" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/church-martyrdom#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:36:01 +0000ftftadmin30 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Historyhttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-history
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Coptic Orthodox Church is an Apostolic Church, not only because her founder is St. Mark the Apostle who ministered in Egypt, ordained a bishop, priests, and deacons to aid him in his ministry and was martyred in Alexandria, and not only because her first Patriarch is St. Mark's successor through an unbroken chain of popes since the apostolic age, but also because she preserves the apostolic thought in her life, spirituality, liturgies and dogmas. She is actually a living extension of the apostolic church without deviation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Coptic Church is sometimes accused of exaggerated conservatism and refusal of concessions. As a matter of fact she is not stagnant or stolid but faithful and conservative, preserving the apostolic life, and desiring to offer the gift of faith in all its aspects throughout the ages.</p>
<div class="dots" style="text-align: justify;">
<hr /></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">All files are available in Adobe Portable Format (PDF). You will need <a href="http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">Acrobat Reader 4.0</span></span></a> or higher to view the files.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/church-history" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/church-history#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:32:48 +0000ftftadmin29 at http://ftftmission.orgCoptic Fasts & Feastshttp://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-fasts-feasts
<h2>2009 A.D. / 1725–1726 A.M.</h2>
<p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<th width="75%">Fast or Feast</th>
<th width="25%">Date</th>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Holy Nativity Feast</td>
<td class="red">January 7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>The Circumcision Feast</td>
<td class="red">January 14</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Holy Epiphany</td>
<td class="red">January 19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Feast of the Wedding of Cana of Galilee</td>
<td class="red">January 21</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Jonah's (Nineveh) Fast</td>
<td class="red">February 9–11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Jonah's (Nineveh) Feast</td>
<td class="red">February 12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Presentation of the Lord into the Temple</td>
<td class="red">February 15</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Holy Great Fast</td>
<td class="red">February 23 – April 10</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Feast of the Cross</td>
<td class="red">March 19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Annunciation Feast</td>
<td class="red">April 7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Lazarus Saturday</td>
<td class="red">April 11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem (Hosanna Sunday)</td>
<td class="red">April 12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Holy Pascha</td>
<td class="red">April 13–15</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Covenant Thursday</td>
<td class="red">April 16</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Good Friday</td>
<td class="red">April 17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Glorious Feast of the Resurrection</td>
<td class="red">April 19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Thomas’ Sunday</td>
<td class="red">April 26</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Martyrdom of St. Mark the Evangelist</td>
<td class="red">May 8</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Holy Feast of Ascension</td>
<td class="red">May 28</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Entry of the Lord into Egypt</td>
<td class="red">June 1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Holy Pentecost Feast</td>
<td class="red">June 7</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>The Apostles' Fast</td>
<td class="red">June 8 – July 11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>The Apostles' Feast (Martyrdom of St. Peter &amp; St. Paul)</td>
<td class="red">July 12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>St. Mary's Fast</td>
<td class="red">August 7–21</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Transfiguration Feast</td>
<td class="red">August 19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Assumption of St.</td></tr></tbody></table></p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-fasts-feasts" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-fasts-feasts#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:31:38 +0000ftftadmin28 at http://ftftmission.orgChurch Dogmashttp://ftftmission.org/book/church-dogmas
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dogmas, to the Coptic Orthodox Church, are not merely theological concepts concerning God, man, church, eternal life, heavenly creatures, demon etc…, to be discussed among clergymen, scholars and laymen, but are, in essence, daily experiences each member of the church has to live. In other words, dogmas representing our faith in God through various aspects have one message, i.e. our communion with God the Father in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, by His Holy Spirit. Thus we conceive of our redemption, and our membership of the church, a deep understanding of the Holy Bible, an acceptance of the Kingdom of God within our souls, a communion with the heavenly creatures and the experience of eternal life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Church is not merely a school involved in researches and teaching dogmas, but an institution that worships God and serves mankind. It works for the transformation and the renewal of this world, and hopefully awaits the world to come. Truly, the Church would not be the church, as we know it without Christian dogmas. Dogmas interpret our whole philosophy of the Church through repeated practice of our faith through the holy tradition (the Holy Scriptures, worship, behavior and preaching). All these elements represent different aspects of the one inseparable church life.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Dogmas in fact are mirrors of the Holy Scriptures. They explain the Holy Scriptures and attract men to enjoy its spirit.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/church-dogmas" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/church-dogmas#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:27:54 +0000ftftadmin27 at http://ftftmission.orgSt. Mark the Apostle, the Founder of the Coptic Churchhttp://ftftmission.org/book/st-mark-apostle-founder-coptic-church
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="http://www.suscopts.org/images/saints/saintmark.gif" alt="St. Mark" width="245" height="250" align="left" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Coptic Church or the Church of Alexandria is called "Sees of St. Mark"; one of the earliest four sees: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">St. Mark, The Founder</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Copts are proud of the apostolicity of their Church, whose founder is St. Mark; one of the seventy Apostles (Mk 10:10), and one of the four Evangelists. He is regarded by the Coptic hierarchy as the first of their unbroken 117 patriarchs, and also the first of a stream of Egyptian martyrs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This apostolicity was not only furnished on grounds of its foundation but rather by the persistence of the Church in observing the same faith received by the Apostle and his successors, the Holy Fathers.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">St. Mark's Bibliography</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">St. Mark was an African native of Jewish parents who belonged to the Levites' tribe. His family lived in Cyrenaica until they were attacked by some barbarians, and lost their property. Consequently, they moved to Jerusalem with their child John Mark (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37). Apparently, he was given a good education and became conversant in both Greek and Latin in addition to Hebrew. His family was highly religious and in close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His cousin was St. Barnabas and his father's cousin was St. Peter. His mother, Mary, played an important part in the early days of the Church in Jerusalem. Her upper room became the first Christian church in the world where the Lord Jesus Christ Himself instituted the Holy Eucharist (Mk 14:12-26). Also, this is the same place where the Lord appeared to the disciples after His resurrection and His Holy Spirit came upon them.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/st-mark-apostle-founder-coptic-church" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/st-mark-apostle-founder-coptic-church#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:22:59 +0000ftftadmin26 at http://ftftmission.orgApostolic Agehttp://ftftmission.org/book/apostolic-age
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">1. Definition of Apostolic Age:</h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Apostolic Age is the time in which the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ lived and preached the Christian faith. It accounts for approximately 70 years and extended from the foundation of the Church on the day of Pentecost on 30 AD to the departure of St. John the Apostle, 100 AD.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/apostolic-age" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/apostolic-age#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:21:28 +0000ftftadmin25 at http://ftftmission.orgIntroductionhttp://ftftmission.org/book/introduction
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>"Blessed is Egypt my people" (Isa 19:25)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">God's promise to His people is always fulfilled; He foretold that He would ride on a light and upon a swift cloud and come to Egypt (Isa 19:1); and in that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border (Isa 19:19). This promise was fulfilled by the flight of the Holy Family from the face of the tyrant Herod to find refuge among the Gentiles. Thus our Lord Jesus Christ came during His childhood to Egypt to lay by Himself the foundation stone of His Church in Egypt which has become one of the four primary "Sees" in the world, among the churches of Jerusalem, Antioch and Rome, and joined later by the "See" of Constantinople.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The star of the Egyptian Church shone through the School of Alexandria which taught Christendom the allegoric and spiritual methods in interpreting the Holy Scripture and was the leader in defending the Orthodox faith on an ecumenical level.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Christian monastic movement in all its forms started in Egypt, attracting the heart of the Church towards the desert, to practice the angelic inner life. This happened at the time when the doors of the royal court had been opened to the clergy, and this consequently endangered the church, as the quiet and spiritual church work was mixed with the temporal authority and politics of the royal court.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Egyptian Church carried our Lord Jesus Christ's cross throughout generations, bearing sufferings even from the side of Christians themselves. She continued to offer a countless number of martyrs and confessors throughout ages. Sometimes the people of towns were martyred and many struggled to win the crowns of martyrdom happily and with a heart full of joy.</p>
<p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/introduction" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/introduction#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchEgyptWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:19:58 +0000ftftadmin24 at http://ftftmission.orgThe Coptic Churchhttp://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-church
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><p style="text-align: justify;">"...On one hand, its theology is based on nothing outside the scriptures. On the other hand, the doctrines agree in all parts with those of the Early Church i.e. the tradition which has the proper interpretation and application of the teachings of our Lord and the Apostles as understood and practiced by the Christians and the leaders of the Church during the period of the One Universal Church until the division of 451 A.D."<br />Bishop Athanasius of Ben-Swef and Bahnassa (1977)</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D. The church adheres to the Nicene Creed. St. Athanasius (296-373 A.D.), the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Church effectively defended the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ's Divinity at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. His affirmation of the doctrine earned him the title; "<strong>Father of Orthodoxy</strong>" and St. Athanasius "<strong>the Apostolic</strong>".</p>
<blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><p>The term "<strong>Coptic</strong>" is derived from the Greek "<strong>Aigyptos</strong>" meaning "<strong>Egyptian</strong>". When the Arabs arrived in Egypt in the seventh century, they called the Egyptians "<strong>qibt</strong>". Thus the Arabic word "<strong>qibt</strong>" came to mean both "<strong>Egyptians</strong>" and "<strong>Christians</strong>".</p>
<p>The term "<strong>Orthodoxy</strong>" here refers to the preservation of the "<strong>Original Faith</strong>" by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Old Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it.</p>
</blockquote><p><a href="http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-church" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://ftftmission.org/book/coptic-church#commentsAbout UsChurchCopticCoptic ChurchWed, 04 Feb 2009 22:17:04 +0000ftftadmin23 at http://ftftmission.orgAbout Ushttp://ftftmission.org/book/about-us
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/garland_dropmenu_logo.gif" alt="FTFT! Logo" title="FTFT! Logo" style="margin: 0px 10px; float: right;" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>FTFT! (First Timothy Four: Twelve),</strong> a faith-based organization of Coptic Orthodox youth, seeks to alleviate the suffering of the neediest in our communities. Whether these brethren of the Lord are overrun by poverty, disease, hunger or loneliness, FTFT! brings St. Paul's words to life by gathering an Army of youth volunteers to serve and spread God's message of grace and salvation through His Church.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/about-us#commentsAbout UsMon, 02 Feb 2009 23:26:53 +0000ftftadmin11 at http://ftftmission.orgVisiting Angelshttp://ftftmission.org/book/visiting-angels
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The first commandment with a promise is to Honor your father and mother… (Exodus 20:12) </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>We read St. Paul’s instructions to St. Timothy in light of this when he says …an older man… exhort him as a father… the older women as mothers… with all purity. (2 Timothy 5:1-2)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The group, dedicated to visiting the elderly, accomplishes FTFT!'s goal of spreading Love by engaging these men and women in conversation, as well as participating with them in activities.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We visit various nursing homes and essentially become friends with people who have grown in wisdom and experience over the years.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We show them care and interest and love, and show them that although they may have been forgotten by the lot of men… Christ still remembers them, as we are coming in His name. </p>
<p>New Vanderbilt Rehabilitation and Care Center, Inc</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Staten Island Care Center</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">St. Francis Hospital</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/visiting-angels#commentsAbout UsPlatoonVisiting AngelsMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:57:11 +0000ftftadmin10 at http://ftftmission.orgTalitha Koumihttp://ftftmission.org/book/talitha-koumi
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>‘Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… For I was sick and you visited me.’ Matthew 25: 38-39</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">To meet the needs of children in a hospital or clinic setting, FTFT! is committed to helping children throughout their recovery processes while fulfilling any needs the hospital has.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>FTFT!</strong> performs skits, holds events and hands out gifts. FTFT! also tries to help individual cases when information becomes available.</p>
<p>Talitha Koumi</p>
<p>Lutheran Medical Center</p>
<p>Methodist</p>
<p>Maimonides Medical Center</p>
<p>Staten Island University Hospital</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/talitha-koumi#commentsAbout UsPlatoonTalitha KoumiMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:55:41 +0000ftftadmin9 at http://ftftmission.orgOperation Hopehttp://ftftmission.org/book/operation-hope
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience."(1 Peter 3:15)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">FFTT! works to equip its servants to give the proper defense to bring glory to the name of Christ and His Church. Just as Christ prepared the Apostles to minister his word, Operation Hope will train its servants with the proper doctrine and basic foundation of the Coptic Orthodox Church's teachings to minister to those who are searching for the light Christ offers. </p>
<p>Through prayer, love, and the Apostles’ examples, Operation Hope lights the way for those in search of Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/operation-hope#commentsAbout UsPlatoonTalitha KoumiMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:54:11 +0000ftftadmin8 at http://ftftmission.orgFreedom!http://ftftmission.org/book/freedom
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Remember those in prison as if chained with them"</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Hebrews 13:3</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our Lord came to provide solace to those who are afflicted and freedom to those who are in chains. He directly commanded that we visit those who are in prison regardless of their guilt or innocence.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We know that true liberty comes from within, through a relationship with Christ, and the FTFT! Freedom! group provides those who are eager to serve and preach the love of Jesus Christ to the imprisoned, with the means and direction to do so.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Through previously established Christian ministries such as "Prison Fellowship," we receive the necessary connection to prison chaplains in order to assist in Coptic-centered bible studies, Coptic-themed seminars, and other special events.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We work in men's, women's, as well as juvenile correctional facilities. We give the Lord many opportunities to use us to change the lives of His children who are imprisoned.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/freedom#commentsAbout UsFreedomPlatoonMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:53:05 +0000ftftadmin7 at http://ftftmission.orgFive Loaves and Two Fisheshttp://ftftmission.org/book/five-loaves-and-two-fishes
<p align="center"><strong>Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: "<em>for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink" (Matthew 25: 34-35)</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">God is the Ultimate Provider, Who meets His people's needs, and He made us His visible hands on Earth. Just as God used a visible sky to send the manna from heaven to feed His people when they were hungry, we pray that God will use Five Loaves &amp; Two Fish as the visible means by which we meet people's physical and spiritual needs.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">FTFT! helps those who are in need by serving in community soup kitchens. Through Christ’s example, we serve those who are hungry just as Christ ordered us to. By conducting ourselves with Love and revealing Christ in us, we will maintain a relationship with those in need. We are examples to those who we are serving, and we show them who Christ is, through words and deeds.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Elijah’s Promise : Let’s Celebrate : Project Hospitality</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/five-loaves-and-two-fishes#commentsAbout UsFive Loaves and Two FishesPlatoonMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:51:48 +0000ftftadmin6 at http://ftftmission.orgChrist's Carpentershttp://ftftmission.org/book/christs-carpenters
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;" (Psalm 127:1) <br />"For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy." (Psalm 61:3)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As David the Psalmist so beautifully sang, it is God who shelters us. It is He who provides for our safety and security.We were commanded by Christ to take in strangers with no place to stay.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is Christ’s Carpenters mission to assist in the establishment of housing for the misplaced, the strangers, the poor and the lost. We do so by physically contributing in the creation of homes, hospitals and churches.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We visit neighborhoods that need maintenance and cleanup. We visit homeless shelters and assist them in serving their residents. We are the hammers and the brooms in God's hands; we hammer the nails in need of hammering, and sweep the floors in need of sweeping. We aim to provide people a place where they can safely live, pray, and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and His mercy.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We work with the United Way, Habitat for Humanity, and various other groups.</p>
http://ftftmission.org/book/christs-carpenters#commentsAbout UsChrist's CarpentersPlatoonMon, 02 Feb 2009 22:48:51 +0000ftftadmin5 at http://ftftmission.org